By De’Ja Cleveland

Many people are working to try and get clemency for Cyntoia Brown. Cyntoia Brown was just sixteen when she was sentenced to life imprisonment. Brown’s charge was murder.

According to The Independent, Brown was adopted at the age of two by a substitute teacher her birth mother knew. By age sixteen, she was living with a twenty-four-year-old man named “Cut Throat.” Cut Throat began forcing Brown into prostitution. According to The Independent, “One night in August 2004, Brown was picked up by Johnny Allen, a 43-year-old real estate agent, outside of a Nashville fast food restaurant.” After being picked up by Allen, he took Brown out to get something to eat. “Allen had allegedly made unwanted sexual advances towards her, and Brown’s testimony said she thought he was reaching for a gun, she said she remembered that he claimed to have been a sharpshooter in the military.” Brown’s fear of losing her life prompted her to shoot and kill Allen. Cyntoia has spent thirteen years in prison already, she is now twenty-nine-years old.

Cyntoia Brown’s story has become known to the world because of a 2011 documentary created by Daniel Birman. The documentary is called Me Facing Life: Cyntoia’s Story.  According to The Independent, “Daniel Birman shared a clip from it on a Nashville television station … which appears to have inspired the viral post(s)” with the hashtag #FreeCyntoiaBrown. Brown’s story has now spread worldwide, and even celebrities are getting involved in trying to secure Brown’s release from prison.

A few posts from celebrities are:

Kim Kardashian West posts:

“The system has failed. It’s heartbreaking to see a young girl sex trafficked then when she has the courage to fight back is jailed for life! We have to do better & do what’s right. I’ve called my attorneys yesterday to see what can be done to fix this”

Rihanna posts:

“did we somehow change the definition of #Justice along the way?? Cause…. Something is horribly wrong when the system enables these rapists and the victim is thrown away for life!”

These celebrities are writing and fighting for this woman who has been through the most atrocious life as a teen.

What do you think about our justice system and the treatment of this young woman?

Comment below.

Sources: The Independent. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/cyntoia-brown-who-is-she-murder-trial-sex-slave-rape-teenage-girl-rihanna-kardashian-post-a8070701.html